Best Places In The World To Retire

How much of y our stuff you should move with you to Mexico really depends on who is paying for the move!  Some people coming to Mexico are moving for work, and their companies will often provide them with a moving budget.  In that case, it could make better sense to bring your stuff with you.  I say “could” because cost isn’t the only thing to consider…more on that in a moment.  For people who are footing the bill personally, the costs of...

How much of y our stuff you should move with you to Mexico really depends on who is paying for the move!  Some people coming to Mexico are moving for work, and their companies will often provide them with a moving budget.  In that case, it could make better sense to bring your stuff with you.  I say “could” because cost isn’t the only thing to consider…more on that in a moment.  For people who are footing the bill personally, the costs of moving items could be prohibitive.  You need to take account not only of the actual shipping costs, but also the customs duties that will be imposed. A household is allowed certain exemptions but you have to make sure that you completed the paperwork on time and before you move.  We have also heard horror stories from people who have waited 6 months or more for their shipments to arrive, and who had items damaged or stolen en route.  I am sure that is not the norm, but something to be aware of.

 

We did not have a moving budget when we relocated from Canada to Mexico, and so for us there was no possibility of bringing our stuff with us. We sold our house in Canada with all of our furniture included, and gave away things like dishes and décor. For people coming to Mexico temporarily, storing furniture and other items might be an option to consider if they are prepared to rent a place already furnished. In our case, we left Canada with whatever could fit in our suitcases and started over once we arrived! The total of our moving costs were the extra baggage fees for the airline.  

 

This was the best solution for us, but you should be aware that the cost of setting up a house in Mexico can also be quite expensive.  Most household items, particularly appliances, furniture, and electronics, will cost quite a bit more than they would in Canada. You may find things in Mexico that are comparable in price to things that you can buy in Canada but often the quality is not what Canadians or Americans might be used to.  

 

So it really comes down to a careful consideration of the costs of shipping vs the costs of buying new, which will vary by distance, currency, location in Mexico, and intangible things like sentimental attachments.

 

(Modern furniture in Mexico City apartment, pictured.)

There if definitely religious freedom here in Panama. The official religion in Panama is Catholicism, so most people are Catholics. Next to that are the different kinds of Protestants. Christians are the main Protestants here in Panama. Then there are some Jewish people, Muslims, Buddhists, etc.

 

There is no problem with religious bigotry here. I have never seen any problem with that. Panamanian people are very tolerant regarding religion. I went to school...

There if definitely religious freedom here in Panama. The official religion in Panama is Catholicism, so most people are Catholics. Next to that are the different kinds of Protestants. Christians are the main Protestants here in Panama. Then there are some Jewish people, Muslims, Buddhists, etc.

 

There is no problem with religious bigotry here. I have never seen any problem with that. Panamanian people are very tolerant regarding religion. I went to school here in Panama. My best friend is Buddhist, my grandmother is Buddhist, and they have a friend who is Christian and my other friend is Catholic. Nobody has anything to do with your religion. You believe what you believe and nobody will mess with that.

 

(Bahá'í temple  in Panama City, Panama, pictured.)

The are few (if any) disadvantages to having a second passport, shy of the negative media publicity toward individuals who are 'prepared' for difficult times ahead.  You will want to be attentive to various tax consequences as holding citizenship in one jurisdiction may not preclude you from owing taxes in another jurisdiction, however there are Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) to help mitigate this.

Everybody gets along here in Belize, so there is really no racial tension.

 

There are people here who are the original descendants of Mayans and Europeans that settled here a long time ago. The Mayans, which are the real Mayan-Indians, are active in Belize, too. We also have the darker skinned African-American that came in from the slave trade a long time ago. The Garifuna, who have darker skin, are here in Belize, too. Quite a few Taiwanese and Chinese...

Everybody gets along here in Belize, so there is really no racial tension.

 

There are people here who are the original descendants of Mayans and Europeans that settled here a long time ago. The Mayans, which are the real Mayan-Indians, are active in Belize, too. We also have the darker skinned African-American that came in from the slave trade a long time ago. The Garifuna, who have darker skin, are here in Belize, too. Quite a few Taiwanese and Chinese people work here, too. There is a Mennonite community here in Belize, who are very pale-skinned Germans. You have a whole variety of people here in Belize. Most of the restaurants and grocery stores are owned and operated by the Asian community. Then you have the Mestizos, who are sort of a mix of the Mayans who had babies with the British and Spaniards, or the Europeans who came to Belize many years ago. They came out with a group of darker-skinned Caucasians who have Mayan darker olive skin. Then you have the Caucasians from the States and Europe.  There are a few Australians and British from the old government. There is a good variety of people here in Belize.